Posted on 03/12/2013 12:15:24 PM PDT by LucianOfSamasota
NEWTOWN — The Board of Finance voted unanimously Monday night to set aside $420,000 in the contingency fund for the coming year for 4.3 armed security positions, allowing all seven of public schools to have armed police officers or the equivalent.
The Finance Board also voted 5-1 to set aside $180,000 in the Board of Selectmen’s budget so the town’s three private schools can apply for one-time grants to also have armed security officers.
The second motion, which would provide up to $60,000 per school, passed despite misgivings by some board members about providing public money to private schools. An initial vote to set aside $150,000 failed 3-1 with two abstentions. Four affirmative votes were needed to pass.
Board member Carol Walsh pointed out that if the town didn’t provide money to increase security at the private schools, “we’re looking at the possibility of students moving over to our public schools.” She said Newtown now could accommodate additional students in the lower grades, but not in the upper grades.
(Excerpt) Read more at nhregister.com ...
Common sense in Connecticut!
I don't know about that. Half million dollars a year for armed guards whom could equally be replaced by buying a dozen shotguns and sticking them in school offices, with training for teachers and staff in how to handle them.
Instead, children will have to deal with a rent a cop who might or might not be there when they are needed.
High price for sketchy security.
That’s just plain foolish.
Welcome to CT where we deal in feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelings. Facts be damned!
One armed guard, 1 year, $60,000.00
It isn't cheap when someone else carries your water. 24 could be outfitted and ready for the price of one, and re-upped with frequent range time and ammo on an annual basis.
Dang it! Who left the barn door open. Horses must be all the way to massachooseits by now.
I'm not sure the city is getting it's money's worth this way. Training and arming qualified school staff, who are already being paid to be there anyway, may be a more cost effective approach.
Well, it is not as cost effective or secure as arming and training several teachers and administrators. It is, however, far superior to depending entirely upon a “Gun Free School Zone” sign to stop a mass killer.
Is this the new math? 4.3 guards do not equal 7 schools. By the old math, that's 2.7 guards short and what about breaks, lunch and sick time?
When are they going to ban those DHS/EMS training daze that always seem to include some live action or fake live action?
I’m happy they are doing it—after the fact, sadly.
I think it is silly and wasteful to spend that much money, though.
They could easily have volunteer armed parents on duty—or better yet, arm the principal and a trained teacher or two at each school.
Once that news got out, I think they would probably have the safest schools in the country.
To All:
Please do NOT believe any of this. The “SPECIAL BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CHILDREN’S SAFETY”, a group of democrats, rinos and Union reps has control of the purse strings here.
The are foaming at the mouth and chomping at the bit to initiate a gun grab.
I have no evidence at the moment, but this stinks of a Union money grab.
“4.3 armed security positions”, Bet it is gonna SUCK to be that “.3” of a guy.
So much for gun free zones...
Idiots.
Send all the custodians to firearms training and let them carry, quietly, with a little bump in pay for their added job description.
Problem solved, on the cheap.
Is that 4 guards and a pair of legs???
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